More Lophocolea semiteres in VC41

Because we've been concentrating mostly on fungi this autumn, most of our bryophyte recording has been rather incidental. Some of the most interesting records recently include a very large colony of Lophocolea semiteres in a Pine/Spruce forest in Ton Mawr (SS79589751) growing on needle beds and on fallen trunks with Hypnum jutlandicum and Lophocolea bidentata. While it is, perhaps, an unwelcome species in general, it is an interesting addition to the conifer plantation flora of Glamorgan.

Lophocolea semiteres, Ton Mawr

The Ton Mawr Sitka Spruce forest also has a small population of Leucobryum juniperoideum (which I've posted on before) and we saw more of this under Sitka in Glyncorrwg last week. There are now at least 4 records of this species associated with Sitka Spruce forests in Glamorgan.
re: Comments - See photo of Maes Gwyn Larch plantation habitat below.

Lophocolea semiteres habitat, Maes Gwyn Larch plantation

While foraying near the Red Jacket Iron Works site (near Jersey Marine) we noted a significant population of Riccia subbifurca growing with Fossombronia (not yet in fruit) and large amounts of what looks like Cephaloziella rubella (stilling working on it!). Lots of attractive Calliergonella lindbergii and Climacium dendroides here too and there is a large selection of grassland and birch/willow scrub fungi, such as Blue-edge Pinkgill (Entoloma serrulatum).

Track with Riccia subbifurca and Fossombronia, Red Jacket

Entoloma serrulatum, Red Jacket

Cwm Colliery

Yesterday afternoon Karen Wilkinson and I spent a few hours looking at the bryophytes of Cwm Colliery, near Beddau. It's a big place and we only really scratched the surface, but we managed to add quite a few species for the under-recorded tetrads ST08S and ST08T.

Liam Olds has done a lot of invert surveys at this site, and had mentioned the presence of tufaceous springs - something I'd not seen on colliery spoil. We looked at a couple of these on the western side of the tip - they certainly look odd but we failed to find any unusual bryophyte species: only Didymodon tophaceus, Aneura pinguis, Cratoneuron filicinum and Bryum pseudotriquetrum were recorded on the tufa.

 

Elsewhere, we found a couple of patches of what looks like it might be Lophocolea semiteres growing on spoil under young birch - photos below. I'm not absolutely sure it's not L. heterophylla - some of the leaf tips are retuse but most are entire, and none are very notched. Photos below.

Most of the spoil was fairly species-poor but we did find small patches of Calliergonella lindbergii (photo below), Archidium alternifolium, Campyliadelphus chrysophyllus and Weissia brachycarpa var obliqua. The young willow and birch woodland was quite rich, with Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus and a good range of epiphytes.

There are large areas in the north and east of the site left to explore, so further visits are needed.

Skomer

A day trip to the island with friends yesterday provided a few opportunities to look at bryophytes when not taken in by the spectacular display of Bluebells and the captivating Puffins.

Homage was paid to the Porella obtusata, which was still doing well on The Farmhouse walls, plus a close look at the heavily trampled ground in the enclosure proved to be interesting; a withering Fossombronia was frequent on patches of bare ground, the very thick tubers and purple rhizoids hinting at maritima - only unconfirmed material is mentioned for Skomer in Sam's Pembs Bryoflora, so still awaiting confirmation. Other species noted in the very short, broken sward included Barbula convoluta, Erodium maritimum, Scleropodium touretii, Riccia sorocarpa, Pseudocrossidium hornschuchianum and perhaps most significant a little Lophocolea semiteres, again very withered, but unmistakable, despite this being a new species for me.

Above: Left - Caught in the act!  Right - Fossombronia sp.
Below: Left - Fossombronia sp.  Right - Lophocolea semiteres   

Lophocolea semiteres was noted in much greater abundance on what looked like a large area of formerly disturbed ground west of The Wick and was occasional in damp ground east of North Pond and seems well-established on the island. I noticed a lot of moss growing in the entrances of shearwater burrows. I grabbed a few samples from safe locations but all I found was frequent Dicranella heteromalla and a little Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. 28 species were noted in total, but an out of season search is obviously essential for 'off path' exploration of this amazing island.

Area west of The Wick with abundant L. semiteres.

Lophocolea semiteres

Lophocolea semiteres